Advances in Fostering Attachment Security

Dear Colleagues,

Attachment security has been associated with a myriad of positive intrapersonal and interpersonal outcomes, including high-quality relationships, high levels of self-esteem, efficacy, autonomy, subjective and physical well-being, and better work outcomes. Originally rooted in parent-child bonding processes and early attachment patterns, adult attachment-secure orientation develops when adults have experiences that shape specific beliefs—namely that others are trustworthy and that they are worthy of receiving and providing caregiving. In contrast, others have more negative experiences that develop into anxious tendencies whereby individuals become preoccupied in their relationships, and/or avoidant tendencies whereby individuals avoid intimacy to lessen the highly aversive impact of rejection. Research on adult attachment processes tends to treat such differences as stable, chronic dispositions that are difficult to change and that dictate personal and interpersonal outcomes throughout the lifespan. However, recent research suggests ways of mitigating insecurity, and even enhancing security, as new experiences cause attachment orientation to change over time with different people. Given the numerous advantages of being interpersonally secure, there is widespread interest in unearthing mechanisms and developing strategies that strengthen attachment security.

This Special Issue seeks papers that advance insights into how attachment security can be enhanced in adults, in both clinical and non-clinical settings. We welcome papers that examine naturally occurring processes or utilize experimental approaches, as well as high-quality theoretical or systematic reviews that offer insights into how attachment insecurity can be mitigated or how security can be fostered. We hope that this Special Issue will facilitate a diverse range of research into how individuals can become more interpersonally secure, which, in turn, are expected to contribute to higher quality relationships and increased well-being.

Dr. Madoka Kumashiro
Dr. Ximena B. Arriaga
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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